Doǧan, S Z; Arditi, D and Murat Günaydin, H (2008) Using decision trees for determining attribute weights in a case-based model of early cost prediction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 134(2), pp. 146-152. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This paper compares the performance of three different decision-tree-based methods of assigning attribute weights to be used in a case-based reasoning (CBR) prediction model. The generation of the attribute weights is performed by considering the presence, absence, and the positions of the attributes in the decision tree. This process and the development of the CBR simulation model are described in the paper. The model was tested by using data pertaining to the early design parameters and unit cost of the structural system of residential building projects. The CBR results indicate that the attribute weights generated by taking into account the information gain of all the attributes performed better than the attribute weights generated by considering only the appearance of attributes in the tree. The study is of benefit primarily to researchers, as it compares the impact of attribute weights generated by three different methods and, hence, highlights the fact that the prediction rate of models such as CBR largely depends on the data associated with the parameters used in the model.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | computer software; construction cost; cost estimates; decision making; decision support systems; optimization models; predictions; weight |
| Index terms: | decision tree, presence, cost estimate, cost prediction, residential building, design parameter, construction cost, decision-making, unit cost, case-based reasoning, decision support, prediction model |
| Subjects: | prediction and forecasting, financial and cost management, environmental science, construction type, design constraints, decision analysis, cognitive psychology |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Risk Management, Research Practice, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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